International Year of Cooperatives every 10 years

22/01/2026

The United Nations General Assembly has adopted Resolution A/RES/80/182, recognizing the significant role of cooperatives in fostering economic and social development globally. Building on the success of the International Years of Cooperatives in 2012 and 2025, the resolution "calls for the declaration of an International Year of Cooperatives every 10 years, to promote the effective use of the cooperative enterprise model for advancing social and economic development."
Historical context:
2012: The first UN International Year of Cooperatives.
2025: The second International Year of Cooperatives; consequently, the International Year under the auspices of the UN is established on a ten-year cycle.

There are over 3 million cooperatives worldwide, spanning the agricultural, financial, consumer, housing, and producer sectors.
They serve more than 1 billion members and provide employment for over 280 million people globally.